Aaargh! I know I haven't updated in forever and a day . . . very sorry
about that. I have been concentrating on other stuff, like monosyllabic
parodies. :D Thanks so much for all of your reviews! They're very
inspiring!
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"Come on," David said, staring up through the tree-house's trap door at Bootstrap's confused face. "We're going."
"Where are we going, lad?" Bootstrap asked, swinging down the rope and landing in front of David, looking misleadingly solid.
"Back to my locker," David said, shoving his hands in his pockets to ward off the early morning chill.
"Why?" Bill asked, looking confused.
"So I can shove you in, shut the door, and hope that you go back to wherever the heck you came from!" David snapped, scowling. "That's why!"
"Ah," Bootstrap said, looking a little bit hurt. David felt a rush of guilt, but squashed it ruthlessly. The bottom line was, Bill had to go back to his home . . . wherever and whenever that was. He couldn't stay here. David couldn't take care of him, and any adults who met the pirate would think he was crazy for claiming to be from a different time period. And even if an adult believed Bootstrap's story, they'd probably just stick him in a lab or something. Or, even worse, they'd find out about David's locker. That was the absolute last thing he needed: a bunch of scientists opening and closing the darn thing, asking him questions. David's scowl deepened. All he wanted was a normal life. Why did this have to happen to him?
"Are you all right, lad?" Bootstrap asked, peering at David. The boy blinked, his internal pity-party interrupted.
"I'm fine," David said shortly.
"You don't look fine," Bootstrap said, looking at David with an infuriatingly understanding expression.
"And you don't look normal," David retorted, "which is why we have to get you out of here. Now come on, we're wasting time." With that, David spun on his heel and strode off towards the school, with a somewhat bewildered Bootstrap in tow.
The journey to the middle school was thankfully uneventful; they didn't even see a car. There were several occasions when David had to drag Bootstrap away from a stop sign or a mailbox that he was examining with great interest, but there were no diving-into-the-shrubbery emergencies.
They entered the eerily silent middle school, David keeping an eye out for janitors. They walked past principal Hobb's office, then up the stairs to David's locker. David glanced at Bootstrap, and suddenly realized that if his idea worked, Bootstrap would end up in the 17th century wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.
"Shoot," David muttered under his breath.
"What?" Bootstrap asked, looking quizzically at David.
"Nothing," David sighed. He wasn't about to turn around and go all the way back home just to pick up a pile of rags, anyway. David stood in front of his locker and sighed again. Then he turned to Bill. "You should probably stand back," he advised. Bootstrap darted a nervous glance at David's locker and stood well off to the side. Flinching slightly, David twirled the combination lock, jerked open the locker, and leaped back.
Nothing.
Bootstrap gave David a disappointed glance. "Is that it, lad? I expected somethin' interesting!"
David had breathed a quiet sigh of relief when nothing had emerged. Now he looked at Bootstrap with a raised eyebrow. "So sorry to disappoint you." He held the door back and motioned towards the empty, metal interior. "Hop on in."
"What?" Bootstrap backed up a pace, looking nervous again. "Why?"
"Because it's the only way I can think of to get you back home! Now get in!" David snapped, glaring at the pirate. "Come on, we haven't got all day!"
"Er . . ." Bootstrap inched towards the locker. "Are you sure it's safe?"
David rolled his eyes and shifted his weight impatiently. "Well, it's not going to kill you, is it?"
"Well . . . no. Damn." Bill sighed, then climbed into the locker with a huge show of reluctance. As soon as the pirate was crammed fully inside, David shut the door, expecting a flash of light or a rumble of thunder, or *something* to show that it had worked.
What he got was a minute of silence, and then a nervous cough.
"Davey? I don't think it's working," Bill said, his voice muffled. "Can you let me out?"
David seriously considered turning around and running. He would go home and forget it ever happened. Then again . . . if the locker hadn't sucked him back now, he doubted that it would in the future. He'd have to let him back out eventually.
"Davey? David, sorry . . . are you out there?" Bootstrap started thumping on the door as vigorously as his cramped condition would allow. David sighed heavily, then stepped forward and let Bootstrap out.
"Whew!" Bill staggered forward, brushed himself off, and gave David a shaky grin (which David didn't return). Bootstrap looked over David's shoulder, then nodded. "Who's yer friend?"
"What?!" David spun around, eyes wide.
"I didn't *think* it would work that way," said the girl leaning against the opposite wall. She smirked at both of them, and David felt a mixture of fear, anger, and resignation. It was Becca Bradstreet. Wonderful. Note the sarcasm.
Becca was one of the quiet smart girls. They kept to themselves unless, of course, they were correcting the mistakes of their classmates. Some of them may have been nice, but since they were so quiet most of the time, they all came across as huge know-it-alls.
"How long have you known?" David asked quietly. Becca shrugged.
"You have pirate artifacts spewing out of your locker, 'Davey.'"
"I never open it during the school year!" David folded his arms and glared at her. It was true. He had always kept his books at home, partially to avoid having to open it in public, and partially to keep his notes from being destroyed by seawater.
"Yeah," Becca said, raising an eyebrow, "I noticed."
"Do you know this lass?" Bill asked, poking David.
"Yes, Bill, I know who she is," David snapped impatiently.
"Well, then, a gentleman would make some introductions," Bill said. Becca grinned, and David seethed.
"Yeah, David, be a gentleman!" Becca taunted, snickering.
"Bill, this is Becca," David said through gritted teeth. "Becca, this is none of your business. Come on, Bill, let's go." David turned to leave.
"Oh, so now you're just going to leave?" Becca scrambled to catch up. "No way! You have a real, live pirate in your possession," she missed the significant glance that Bill and David exchanged at the word 'live,' "and I want in!"
"What do you mean, 'in'?!" David asked as they descended the staircase. "This isn't a secret club that you can just join or something!"
"Well, why not?" Becca asked, sticking to them like a leech. "The order of the secret pirate! It would be fun!"
"Have you snapped?!" David asked, incredulous. Bill was watching the conversation like a man watching a tennis match, his head whipping back and forth.
"Okay, so I was joking about the club. But seriously, you can't hide a pirate by yourself. I could help."
"I don't want your help, thanks," David said flatly, pushing his way out the front doors.
"I don't care if you want it or not, you *need* it! Or do you plan on putting him up in your tree-house for the rest of the summer?"
David stopped in his tracks and glared furiously at Becca. "Have you been spying on me?!"
"I've been observing," Becca said primly. David rolled his eyes. "Oh, fine, so I've been spying! Who wouldn't?! A *pirate* fell out of your *locker*!"
"And how many people have you told?" David asked coldly.
"I haven't told anyone, for your information!" Becca huffed.
"Good," David said with a fake smile, "don't! Ever! Bye!" David stormed back toward his house, Becca trailing him. She continued to pester David all the way back to his house. David ignored her, while Bootstrap didn't make a peep.
David started up his driveway, then froze. His mother's car was in the driveway. Bootstrap would freak! David whipped around to reassure the pirate . . . but the pirate was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?!" David glared at Becca, who looked around in a mixture of confusion and slight embarrassment.
"I don't know."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dun dun DUN! Yeah, a cliffhanger, I know. Hey, at least I updated! :P
Mercedes McCaughey: Thanks! Poor Bill, indeed. :P
ElvenPirate41: Wow, thanks for all of your reviews! :D If you do start calling your locker that, you should get some interesting looks . . .
Shag a lizard: Hehe, I think David's an only child. Sorry! :D
Purplestainedglass: Awww, thanks! Here's your update!
Raven185: Hehehe, thanks! I updated!
Daisy Summers: Thanks!
PhilosopherCat: Yay! Glad you like it! This is the first POTC fic you've ever read? Wow! What a coincidence; it's the first one I ever wrote! :P
Kawaii Elf Girl: Yes, it would be freaky, and no, you can't have a bone! Bootstrap needs them! :P
Ooktavia: Hmm . . . I'm not a big coffee drinker; thanks for the offer, though! Sorry this update took forever!
Whizzothecrunchyfrog: You enjoyed them! Yay!
Billie Jukes: I apologize for my updating tardiness! And I don't even have a spiffy excuse, I just got distracted. :-( Bad Platy! (smacks self) Thanks a bunch! But it didn't work in reverse, unfortunately.
Normal human being: Hehe, you don't have to have Orlando Bloom if you don't want him! I'm just glad you're reviewing!
Huckling: Why, thank you! Hmm . . . not sure how I *could* bring more people from the movie in . . . I'd have to think about that one. (wanders off to think)
Steve: Thanks! Heh, sorry this wasn't very soon . . .
Muccamukk: Hehe, thanks! And as to the whole time-travel thing . . . the way I see it is, time is a big spiral thingy, and instead of moving *forward*, Bill moved *sideways*. So for him, the curse hasn't been broken yet. Did that make any sense at all? Oh, btw, here's a mini Johnny Depp, just for you!
Child of a Pineapple: Thanks! Mucho thanks, hehe!
Meee: Thanks a bunch! Stop being dirty! DIRTY!!!
Shadow Phenix: Thanks bunches for your reviews! Glad you're enjoying it!
Ceanen: Well, David's only thirteen . . . so he makes up words! Glad you like the idea and everything! (blushes furiously) Thanks so much!
Tinania Lindaleriel: Aww, thanks a ton!
Midnights shadow: THANK YOU! Gosh, you all are so nice to me! :D
Jewel: Thanks! I did . . . it just took me a while!
Era-lynne: Thanks for your reviews! Yep, someone noticed! And this chapter was a bit longer than usual, wasn't it?
Prd2bAmerican18: (sings) And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, and gave that right to me . . . (stops) Whoa, sorry. Got a bit carried away there. Glad I'm amusing you! :P
Hellsangel26: Erm . . . so, should I change my summary? :P Glad you liked it! Hee, I'll get on that whole curse thing . . . though I'm pretty sure there's nothing David can do about it . . . hmmmm . . . and I didn't send Bill back! Of course, I didn't have them both get sucked back, so . . . meh. (shrugs) Thanks!
Kitty the drunken butterfly: I remember playing with transformers when I was little . . . anyway, sorry about the wait!
Wow, I got 26 reviews! Note to self . . . always wait several months between postings . . . hehehe, just kidding.
Review, please!!! Once again, sorry about the wait!!!!
~Platy
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"Come on," David said, staring up through the tree-house's trap door at Bootstrap's confused face. "We're going."
"Where are we going, lad?" Bootstrap asked, swinging down the rope and landing in front of David, looking misleadingly solid.
"Back to my locker," David said, shoving his hands in his pockets to ward off the early morning chill.
"Why?" Bill asked, looking confused.
"So I can shove you in, shut the door, and hope that you go back to wherever the heck you came from!" David snapped, scowling. "That's why!"
"Ah," Bootstrap said, looking a little bit hurt. David felt a rush of guilt, but squashed it ruthlessly. The bottom line was, Bill had to go back to his home . . . wherever and whenever that was. He couldn't stay here. David couldn't take care of him, and any adults who met the pirate would think he was crazy for claiming to be from a different time period. And even if an adult believed Bootstrap's story, they'd probably just stick him in a lab or something. Or, even worse, they'd find out about David's locker. That was the absolute last thing he needed: a bunch of scientists opening and closing the darn thing, asking him questions. David's scowl deepened. All he wanted was a normal life. Why did this have to happen to him?
"Are you all right, lad?" Bootstrap asked, peering at David. The boy blinked, his internal pity-party interrupted.
"I'm fine," David said shortly.
"You don't look fine," Bootstrap said, looking at David with an infuriatingly understanding expression.
"And you don't look normal," David retorted, "which is why we have to get you out of here. Now come on, we're wasting time." With that, David spun on his heel and strode off towards the school, with a somewhat bewildered Bootstrap in tow.
The journey to the middle school was thankfully uneventful; they didn't even see a car. There were several occasions when David had to drag Bootstrap away from a stop sign or a mailbox that he was examining with great interest, but there were no diving-into-the-shrubbery emergencies.
They entered the eerily silent middle school, David keeping an eye out for janitors. They walked past principal Hobb's office, then up the stairs to David's locker. David glanced at Bootstrap, and suddenly realized that if his idea worked, Bootstrap would end up in the 17th century wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.
"Shoot," David muttered under his breath.
"What?" Bootstrap asked, looking quizzically at David.
"Nothing," David sighed. He wasn't about to turn around and go all the way back home just to pick up a pile of rags, anyway. David stood in front of his locker and sighed again. Then he turned to Bill. "You should probably stand back," he advised. Bootstrap darted a nervous glance at David's locker and stood well off to the side. Flinching slightly, David twirled the combination lock, jerked open the locker, and leaped back.
Nothing.
Bootstrap gave David a disappointed glance. "Is that it, lad? I expected somethin' interesting!"
David had breathed a quiet sigh of relief when nothing had emerged. Now he looked at Bootstrap with a raised eyebrow. "So sorry to disappoint you." He held the door back and motioned towards the empty, metal interior. "Hop on in."
"What?" Bootstrap backed up a pace, looking nervous again. "Why?"
"Because it's the only way I can think of to get you back home! Now get in!" David snapped, glaring at the pirate. "Come on, we haven't got all day!"
"Er . . ." Bootstrap inched towards the locker. "Are you sure it's safe?"
David rolled his eyes and shifted his weight impatiently. "Well, it's not going to kill you, is it?"
"Well . . . no. Damn." Bill sighed, then climbed into the locker with a huge show of reluctance. As soon as the pirate was crammed fully inside, David shut the door, expecting a flash of light or a rumble of thunder, or *something* to show that it had worked.
What he got was a minute of silence, and then a nervous cough.
"Davey? I don't think it's working," Bill said, his voice muffled. "Can you let me out?"
David seriously considered turning around and running. He would go home and forget it ever happened. Then again . . . if the locker hadn't sucked him back now, he doubted that it would in the future. He'd have to let him back out eventually.
"Davey? David, sorry . . . are you out there?" Bootstrap started thumping on the door as vigorously as his cramped condition would allow. David sighed heavily, then stepped forward and let Bootstrap out.
"Whew!" Bill staggered forward, brushed himself off, and gave David a shaky grin (which David didn't return). Bootstrap looked over David's shoulder, then nodded. "Who's yer friend?"
"What?!" David spun around, eyes wide.
"I didn't *think* it would work that way," said the girl leaning against the opposite wall. She smirked at both of them, and David felt a mixture of fear, anger, and resignation. It was Becca Bradstreet. Wonderful. Note the sarcasm.
Becca was one of the quiet smart girls. They kept to themselves unless, of course, they were correcting the mistakes of their classmates. Some of them may have been nice, but since they were so quiet most of the time, they all came across as huge know-it-alls.
"How long have you known?" David asked quietly. Becca shrugged.
"You have pirate artifacts spewing out of your locker, 'Davey.'"
"I never open it during the school year!" David folded his arms and glared at her. It was true. He had always kept his books at home, partially to avoid having to open it in public, and partially to keep his notes from being destroyed by seawater.
"Yeah," Becca said, raising an eyebrow, "I noticed."
"Do you know this lass?" Bill asked, poking David.
"Yes, Bill, I know who she is," David snapped impatiently.
"Well, then, a gentleman would make some introductions," Bill said. Becca grinned, and David seethed.
"Yeah, David, be a gentleman!" Becca taunted, snickering.
"Bill, this is Becca," David said through gritted teeth. "Becca, this is none of your business. Come on, Bill, let's go." David turned to leave.
"Oh, so now you're just going to leave?" Becca scrambled to catch up. "No way! You have a real, live pirate in your possession," she missed the significant glance that Bill and David exchanged at the word 'live,' "and I want in!"
"What do you mean, 'in'?!" David asked as they descended the staircase. "This isn't a secret club that you can just join or something!"
"Well, why not?" Becca asked, sticking to them like a leech. "The order of the secret pirate! It would be fun!"
"Have you snapped?!" David asked, incredulous. Bill was watching the conversation like a man watching a tennis match, his head whipping back and forth.
"Okay, so I was joking about the club. But seriously, you can't hide a pirate by yourself. I could help."
"I don't want your help, thanks," David said flatly, pushing his way out the front doors.
"I don't care if you want it or not, you *need* it! Or do you plan on putting him up in your tree-house for the rest of the summer?"
David stopped in his tracks and glared furiously at Becca. "Have you been spying on me?!"
"I've been observing," Becca said primly. David rolled his eyes. "Oh, fine, so I've been spying! Who wouldn't?! A *pirate* fell out of your *locker*!"
"And how many people have you told?" David asked coldly.
"I haven't told anyone, for your information!" Becca huffed.
"Good," David said with a fake smile, "don't! Ever! Bye!" David stormed back toward his house, Becca trailing him. She continued to pester David all the way back to his house. David ignored her, while Bootstrap didn't make a peep.
David started up his driveway, then froze. His mother's car was in the driveway. Bootstrap would freak! David whipped around to reassure the pirate . . . but the pirate was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?!" David glared at Becca, who looked around in a mixture of confusion and slight embarrassment.
"I don't know."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dun dun DUN! Yeah, a cliffhanger, I know. Hey, at least I updated! :P
Mercedes McCaughey: Thanks! Poor Bill, indeed. :P
ElvenPirate41: Wow, thanks for all of your reviews! :D If you do start calling your locker that, you should get some interesting looks . . .
Shag a lizard: Hehe, I think David's an only child. Sorry! :D
Purplestainedglass: Awww, thanks! Here's your update!
Raven185: Hehehe, thanks! I updated!
Daisy Summers: Thanks!
PhilosopherCat: Yay! Glad you like it! This is the first POTC fic you've ever read? Wow! What a coincidence; it's the first one I ever wrote! :P
Kawaii Elf Girl: Yes, it would be freaky, and no, you can't have a bone! Bootstrap needs them! :P
Ooktavia: Hmm . . . I'm not a big coffee drinker; thanks for the offer, though! Sorry this update took forever!
Whizzothecrunchyfrog: You enjoyed them! Yay!
Billie Jukes: I apologize for my updating tardiness! And I don't even have a spiffy excuse, I just got distracted. :-( Bad Platy! (smacks self) Thanks a bunch! But it didn't work in reverse, unfortunately.
Normal human being: Hehe, you don't have to have Orlando Bloom if you don't want him! I'm just glad you're reviewing!
Huckling: Why, thank you! Hmm . . . not sure how I *could* bring more people from the movie in . . . I'd have to think about that one. (wanders off to think)
Steve: Thanks! Heh, sorry this wasn't very soon . . .
Muccamukk: Hehe, thanks! And as to the whole time-travel thing . . . the way I see it is, time is a big spiral thingy, and instead of moving *forward*, Bill moved *sideways*. So for him, the curse hasn't been broken yet. Did that make any sense at all? Oh, btw, here's a mini Johnny Depp, just for you!
Child of a Pineapple: Thanks! Mucho thanks, hehe!
Meee: Thanks a bunch! Stop being dirty! DIRTY!!!
Shadow Phenix: Thanks bunches for your reviews! Glad you're enjoying it!
Ceanen: Well, David's only thirteen . . . so he makes up words! Glad you like the idea and everything! (blushes furiously) Thanks so much!
Tinania Lindaleriel: Aww, thanks a ton!
Midnights shadow: THANK YOU! Gosh, you all are so nice to me! :D
Jewel: Thanks! I did . . . it just took me a while!
Era-lynne: Thanks for your reviews! Yep, someone noticed! And this chapter was a bit longer than usual, wasn't it?
Prd2bAmerican18: (sings) And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, and gave that right to me . . . (stops) Whoa, sorry. Got a bit carried away there. Glad I'm amusing you! :P
Hellsangel26: Erm . . . so, should I change my summary? :P Glad you liked it! Hee, I'll get on that whole curse thing . . . though I'm pretty sure there's nothing David can do about it . . . hmmmm . . . and I didn't send Bill back! Of course, I didn't have them both get sucked back, so . . . meh. (shrugs) Thanks!
Kitty the drunken butterfly: I remember playing with transformers when I was little . . . anyway, sorry about the wait!
Wow, I got 26 reviews! Note to self . . . always wait several months between postings . . . hehehe, just kidding.
Review, please!!! Once again, sorry about the wait!!!!
~Platy